After months of flying and fighting in the Middle East, the commanding officer of the US aircraft carrier the USS Carl Vinson believes the hundreds of combat strike missions launched from his ship's flight deck have helped tip the balance against Islamic State.

As the Anzac centenary marks a long history of men fighting for Australia on the frontline this weekend, the Defence Force takes stock of its journey towards female participation and the scandals and investigations that have plagued recent progress.

The commander of the Australian taskforce leading a large contingent of soldiers to Iraq to help train local forces says they are doing their part in "the world's fight" against Islamic State militants.

The generals who seized power in last year's coup in Thailand would be granted immunity from prosecution and unelected individuals allowed to become prime minister under a preliminary draft of a new constitution.

Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha prepares to deliver the speech to mark six months since a military-appointed legislature chose him as prime minister, at the Government house in Bangkok April 17, 2015. Prayuth Chan-ocha hailed the performance of his military government on Friday and said a much-criticised overhaul of the constitution was needed to pull Thailand out of years of political crisis.